In St. Vincent, scientists, government officials, and local farmers are partnering on a meticulous study of dasheen, a tropical root vegetable.
The dasheen trial is not just a casual experiment; it’s a formal scientific study—”the only one in the OECS so to speak.” This is critical because St. Vincent is the region’s leading producer of dasheen, second only to Jamaica. Researchers are essentially running a series of A/B tests, common in the tech industry, to de-risk investment and optimize output for this vital crop.
The experiment is systematically testing several variables: two dasheen varieties (a traditional local one and the popular ‘Somoya’ variety—known for being high-yielding, pest and disease resistant, and drought tolerant), four different fertilizer application rates (0g, 15g, 30g, and 45g per plant), and multiple plant spacings.
Throughout the growing cycle, researchers collect precise data points, including leaf size, petiole length, and the final weight, length, and circumference of the corm—the swollen, fleshy part of the stem that is harvested. The data collection is tangible; one corm grown with no fertilizer, for example, measured precisely 25 cm in length and 42 cm in circumference.
Minister of Agriculture Israel Bruce noted, this data allows producers to be “definitive” about yields. “When we can accurately predict the output, we can secure markets and build the predictable supply chains necessary for a profitable agricultural enterprise”.
Researchers noted that the dasheen plants given the most space (a 3×3 foot spacing) “tend to go wider rather than taller.” In contrast, the plants spaced more closely together grew taller.
This project is a collaborative effort between the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), the Ministry of Agriculture, and local farmers.
